MOST NOTEWORTHY: Some of today's notable upgrades were Apple Inc (AAPL), Comcast Corp (CMCSA) and Crosstex Energy LP (XTEX):

• Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Prudential and raised their target to $105 from $100 after their checks indicated a late March launch of Leopard, which is sooner than expected. Prudential believes Leopard will serve as a catalyst for Mac sales.

• Matrix USA upgraded shares of Comcast Corp (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to Hold from Sell as they believe the successful roll out of "triple play" product offering is driving sales growth.

• Crosstex Energy LP (NASDAQ: XTEX) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse based on valuation.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Seagate Technology Holdings (NYSE: STX) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe Friday's sell-off on concerns that Apple will use NAND Flash rather than disk drives in the next-generation video iPod was overdone. Citigroup doubts Apple will broadly move to NAND flash this year.

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Universal Health Services Inc (NYSE: UHS) to Buy from Hold with a $67 target as they believe industry fundamentals are strong for behavioral health and the valuation is attractive at current levels.

• Brean Murray upgraded shares of Scientific Games Corp (NASDAQ: SGMS) to Hold from Sell. The firm does not expect Scientific Games to hit its 2008 guidance of $2.00, but recognizes the long-term growth prospects should begin to flow to the bottom line.

• Credit Suisse upgraded the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc (NYSE: CME) to Outperform from Neutral on valuation.

• Baird upgraded Thomas Properties Group (NASDAQ: TPGI) to Outperform from Neutral.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Group Danone ADS (NYSE: DA) to Outperform from Peer Perform.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: MasterCard (MA), American Express (AXP), Boyd Gaming (BYD) and Overstock.com (OSTK) were the most notable companies on the initiation list today:

• Keefe Bruyette initiated MasterCard Inc. (NYSE:MA) with an Underperform and an $88 target, citing valuation, and American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) with an Outperform rating and $72 target;
• Coverage of Boyd Gaming Inc. (NYSE:BYD) was resumed with a Buy rating and $67 target, as the firm believes the company's assets are undervalued and investors will look at Boyd as a potential candidate to go private;
• Overstock.com Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) was initiated with a Sell rating and $14 target at First Albany.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• BMO Capital initiated Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) with a Market Perform and $70 target on valuation.
• Susquehanna initiated The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ:KNOT) with a Positive rating, citing the recent buyback and cash infusion; the firm says Knot has an opportunity to capitalize on the growing value of quality online content and favorable sector trends.
• Scientific Games Corp. (NASDAQ:SGMS) was initiated at Bear Sterns with a Peer Perform rating, citing valuation.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).